SIR JOHN M'CLURE ON HYMNS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1919, Page 16

SIR JOHN M'CLURE ON HYMNS

A correspondent forwards the following copy of a letter written to tho editor of the British Weekly:—

Sir,—Will you'kindly allow me, through tlio mediumof your columns, to express a protest against the sweeping strictures uttered by Sir John'M'Clure last week on some of our modern hymns? While agreeing with much that Sir John said regarding public worship and offering to God the best we can produce, I was grieved to read of the slighting way in, which ho spoke of hymns "of tho Sankey type." While those may not ap. peal to tho more critical among us, wo must not forget that thoy havo boon the means of bringing' help -and comfort to many hearts, and in. a great number of instances have won men and women to a better life.

Then with regard to Sir John's bitter words concerning the hymn "Fight the Good Fight," I cannot agree, Had ho heard the 16fch Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles singing this hymn, which they adopted as their battalion hymn, I fancy those hard words would not havo been spoken. It was an event not easily to bo forgotten when eleven hundred of these fine specimens of young manhood (90 per cent, total abstainers) sang with all their hearts "Fight the Good Fight with all thy might, Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right." This hymn was written by tho son of Archdeacon Monsell, a. man, I believe, of saintly life. There is no doubt_ that he put into this hymn the best of his talent and his heart's devotion to his Master, therefore what right havo any of us to say regarding the offering of another to his Maker that "the day will come when the Christiar. Church will bo ashamed to offer to Almighty .God such pitiable doggerel."—Youra faithfully,

(Signed) CHARLOTTE C. MASON, Rayleigh, Essex.